Diagnostic Technology

Clinical patient visits involving the extra- and intraoral examination, radiographic, and other imaging modalities are the most critical phases for planning a patient's future treatment.  No attempt will be made here to review all aspects of dental diagnostics using computer technology.  This discussion will focus on only recent major developments in this area.

All of the following diagnostic functions result in data usable in an EOHR.  Only a few of them support applications that feed data to the EOHR, or to condition those data abstracted from the record for use in CDS.  However, these data are suitable for use by the practitioner for decision-making purposes.

Computer technology is known for its fast turnover rate, and technologic aspects will evolve in other directions.  But if the ideas presented here continue to be developed beyond the initiation phase, they will be useful to practitioners for a long time.  Thus, the following technological capabilities can be used to emphasize a conceptual point.

Oral Cancer Screening

A non-invasive method for detection of precancerous and cancerous oral lesions uses computer-assisted analysis of the oral brush biopsy and is termed OralCDx.³⁰  It can aid in confirming the nature of apparently benign oral lesions and revealing apparently benign lesions that are in actuality either precancerous or cancerous.  OralCDx appears to determine the significance of an oral lesion definitively and detects innocuous-appearing oral cancers at an early and curable stage.  In October 2000, OralCDx received the ADA's "Seal of Acceptance."

Caries Detection

Caries detection is another major preventive task of a dentist.  Here, a newly developed system named Logicon Caries Detector™ program (Logicon Inc., USA) is designed to assist dentists in the detection and characterization of proximal caries.  However, an evaluation study of the program showed that the automated caries detection program was inconsistent and provided different opinions on the caries status in a tooth surface.  In addition, the inter-observer agreement in caries diagnosis failed to improve while using the program.³¹

Techniques for Impression Taking

Since the process of impression taking can be difficult for maxillofacial prosthodontists and uncomfortable for dental patients, non-contact impression techniques are under development utilizing video scanning of the oral cavity.³²  One common problem encountered so far is inadequate spatial resolution.³³

Interactive Communication

Video techniques are widely used in dentistry, including dental education and training^34,35, teleradiology³⁶, and prediction of orthodontic treatment.³⁷

Click Here To Navigate Within Article >> Abstract Introduction Decision-Making Models Expert Systems For Clinical Decision-Making The EOHR and Capturing Patient Care Data Diagnostic Technology Treatment Planning, Pretreatment, Treatment Dental Implications Recall and Outlook Conclusion References About the Author
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Citation Number: Vol. 3, No. 1, Page 035